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Autumn Colours of Northern Japan

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Autumn Colours of Northern Japan AUTUMN COLOURS OF NORTHERN JAPAN Following on from many successful spring seasons in Japan, we are delighted to be returning to the country for autumn 2021, a magical time of year when the landscapes burst into colour with the arrival of the autumn leaves. Our unique voyage aboard the all-suite MS Island Sky focuses on the island of Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost and least developed island which is often considered by the Japanese to be the country's last frontier and is a world away from the traditional view of Japan. Only colonised by Japan in the past 150 years, we won't find a land of ancient temples and shrines or developed cities with skyscrapers but instead large swathes of wild, open spaces, primeval forests, crystal clear lakes, beautiful alpine flowers, active volcanoes and bubbling hot springs. We will also spend time on Honshu visiting the former Feudal town of Hirosaki, the spectacular Towada Hachimantai National Park and Oirase Gorge. During our time cruising around the remarkable island of Hokkaido, we will explore nature trails, watch for wildlife in the national parks, learn more of the indigenous Ainu people and hopefully see landscapes burst into colour with the arrival of the autumn leaves that should coincide with our visit. More than two million acres on Hokkaido are dedicated to national parkland and we will visit some of the most remarkable including the Shiretoko National Park located on the north eastern tip of the island and which in Ainu means 'end of the the richest integrated ecosystems in the world and in 2005 world'. UNESCO has called it one of designated it as a World Heritage Site. We will have a full day to explore the national park, home to brown bears, Yezo sika deer and red fox whilst birders can keep an eye out for Steller sea 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com eagles, Blakiston fish owl and white-tailed eagles. We also visit the Nezu Museum which exhibits an excellent collection of the Kushiro Marshlands, home of Hokkaido's resident Japanese and East Asian art. Hidden away in its spacious red-crowned cranes, Japan's iconic bird known as the bird of forest-like garden you will find ponds, stone lanterns and happiness and the lakes of central Hokkaido including beautiful several tea houses. The afternoon and evening are free to relax Lake Akan. in the hotel or explore independently. Helping us understand all we will see and experience, and Day 4 Tokyo to Otaru travelling with us throughout the voyage, will be our expert naturalist, our knowledgeable Guest Speaker and three Japanese guides, all adding immeasurably to your enjoyment After breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our scheduled and understanding of this fascinating country. flight to Sapporo. On arrival transfer to the port of Otaru where we will embark the MS Island Sky. Tonight enjoy welcome ITINERARY dinner and drinks as we sail. Day 1 London to Tokyo, Japan Day 5 Rishiri Island Fly by scheduled flight. Sail this morning into to the Rishiri-Rebun- Sarobetsu National Day 2 Tokyo Park and berth at Rishiri Island where the skyline is dominated by the dormant volcano of Mount Rishiri, which climbs to 1721 metres. An island drive will include the beautiful scenery at Arrive today and transfer to our hotel for a two night stay. The Himenuma Pond and Kutsugata Cape Park whilst we hope to remainder of the day is at leisure before we meet for dinner this see black woodpecker during a walk at the Forest Park. There evening. will also be free time to explore the town or visit the hot springs. Sail in the early evening to Wakkanai where we will clear Day 3 Tokyo immigration formalities this evening. Day 6 Korsakov, Russia After breakfast in the hotel we will make our way to the Meiji Shrine which is dedicated to the deified spirit of Emperor Meiji and a popular place for traditional Japanese weddings. Arrive this morning at Korsakov where we will clear into Russia. Surrounded by over 100,000 trees, Meiji is an oasis of serenity Once the formalities are concluded we will explore part of this and spirituality in a city that never sleeps. We will continue to city which was founded in 1853 as Sakhalin's first Russian 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com military post. From here we drive to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, the Ainu culture, clothing, legends and crafts at the Hokkaido capital of the island with a population of just over 160,000. Museum of Northern Peoples which also provides an insight into Founded as a small Russian settlement in the 1880s, the city the cultures and traditions of the peoples inhabiting the became a Japanese prefect capital when the southern half of sub-Arctic regions of the globe including Inuit and Sami. Sakhalin was declared a Japanese colony in 1905; after World Afterwards we travel the short distance to the Okhotski Sea Ice War II it was returned to Russia. Highlights include a visit to the Museum which offers insight into the sea ice that surrounds the Russian Orthodox Church and the Regional Museum housed in city during the winter. Return to the MS Island Sky for lunch and an impressive former Japanese mansion. Return to the ship this spend the afternoon on deck as we sail around the Shiretoko afternoon as we return to Japanese waters. Peninsula and into the Nemuro Channel where we will keep an eye out for wildlife on land and in the water. Day 7 Abashiri & Shiretoko National Park, Japan Day 9 Kushiro We arrive in Hokkaido this morning at the port of Abashiri where we will spend a day and a half. There will be a full day excursion Today we will visit the Kushiro Marshlands, Japan's largest to the Shiretoko National Park which covers the majority of the wetland and marsh habitat and home to the only known Shiretoko Peninsula and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due population of Japan's sacred redcrowned cranes. The cranes to the diversity of its ecosystems. This remote and untouched were thought to have been made extinct due to overhunting and park combines rivers, forests, mountains and waterfalls and is habitat destruction. However, in 1926 a group of 20 birds were home to an array of wildlife including brown bears, Yezo sika discovered in this area and with conservation efforts now deer and red fox. If weather permits, we will take the Shiretoko number more than 1000. We will visit the Kushiro Onnenai Pass offering stunning views of the autumn leaves on Mount Visitor Centre with displays of the fauna and fauna of the region Rausu. Continue to the Shiretoko Nature Centre where we can and views over the marshlands before taking the walking trails learn about the wildlife of the park. Here there will be a choice where we hope to see the cranes and birds in their natural of either a long or short walk through the wilderness on the habitat. Continue to the Kushiro Crane Reserve, which was lookout for wildlife, the autumnal colours and views of the created 60 years ago to protect and preserve the crane lakes. Return to the ship via the Oshin Koshin Waterfall and population and continues to rescue injured birds whilst also remain moored overnight in Abashiri. breeding and releasing young birds into the wild. Return to the ship via the Washo Market where you may wish to eat like a Day 8 Abashiri local by creating your own "rice-bowls" with the market's sushi and sashimi. Alternatively enjoy lunch on board the MS Island Sky followed by an afternoon at leisure. We remain in Kushiro Spend a leisurely morning in Abashiri and learn more about the overnight for anyone wishing to go ashore this evening. 01432 507 280 (within UK) [email protected] | small-cruise-ships.com Day 10 Lake Akan We will spend our morning around the Shikotsu-Toya National This morning we will drive inland to see one of the most scenic Park, named after the two caldera lakes which offer wonderful lakes of Hokkaido. Arriving at Lake Akan we will board one of scenery and excellent hiking and walking opportunities. This is the local boats for a cruise, providing the perfect vantage point still an active area and a geological wonder with the volcano to the colourful forests lining the banks with views up to the Showa Shin-zan only created in the 1940s. Our day will be surrounding volcanos of Me-Akan and O-Akan. The lake is also flexible around the weather and if it is a clear day we may take famous for marimo, an aggregation of algae which forms into the cable car to the top of Mount Usu for the wonderful views to balls which is unique to this lake. During our cruise we will pass Lake Toya or visit Jigokudani, "Hell Valley", a steaming lunar like by Takiguchi, one of Lake Akan's most beautiful spots, and also valley of steam vents and sulphurous streams formed over visit the observation centre on Churui Island. Enjoy lunch before 10,000 years ago. Return to the ship for lunch and spend the we walk to Akanko Ainu Kotan, where we will be able to see the afternoon at leisure in Muroran, maybe visit the scenic cape traditional crafts and dance and learn about the culture of the and lighthouse or you may wish to walk up Mount Sokuryo indigenous Ainu people of Hokkaido before returning to the MS offering views to the city below.
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